Interlock safety device

Abstract

The present invention generally provides a safety connector apparatus for making an electrical/power connection in an electrical/power system comprising an interlock cover disposed on a connecting end of a power cable, a housing disposed over a power connector, the housing having a cover receiving cavity and a switch adaptable to enable power transfer when the cover is safely and securely locked by the cover lock.

We claim: 
     
       1. A safety interlocking apparatus for connecting a power cable to a power connector comprising: a) a cover disposed on a connecting end of a power cable;   b) a housing having a cover receiving cavity; and   c) a switch at least partially disposed in the cover receiving cavity and engageable by the cover to enable power transfer when the cover is inserted into the cover receiving cavity.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: d) at least one detent extending radially outward from the cover to activate the switch.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a cover lock disposed adjacent the cover receiving cavity. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cover lock comprises a front plate on the housing having an opening defined by an outline of the cover with the detent and at least one detent receiving groove on a side wall of the cover receiving cavity. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cover is a cylinder rotatably mounted on a connecting end of a power cable. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cover has first and second detents diametrically disposed on the cover. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second detents have different shapes and the cover receiving cavity is correspondingly shaped to the outline of the cover with the differently shaped detents. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch is disposed adjacent the receiving cavity in a switch cavity. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the switch is enabled by a detent moving into a detent receiving groove within the cover receiving cavity. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the switch has a switch pin detecting the detent moving into the detent receiving groove. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: e) a cover position indicator disposed adjacent the cover receiving cavity to signal the cover in a locked position.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the position indicator is a spring detent having a tapered tip extending into a detent receiving groove within the cover receiving cavity; and wherein the detent has a tapered recess to receive the tip of the spring detent. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover and the housing makes a bayonet connection. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is integral with the connecting end of the cable. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is removably attached to the connecting end of the cable. 
     
     
       16. A method for making a safe connection between a connecting end of a power cable and a power connector comprising: a) providing a cover mounted at the connecting end of the power cable;   b) providing a housing disposed over a power connector, the housing having a cover receiving cavity;   c) providing a switch adaptable to enable power transfer when the cover is inserted into the cover receiving cavity and rotated to a locked position;   d) connecting the connecting end of the power cable to the power connector while inserting the cover into the cover receiving cavity; and   e) rotating the cover to the locked position to enable the switch and power transfer.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: providing at least one detent extending radially outward from the cover to lock the cover in the cover receiving cavity and to enable the switch.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein the switch is enabled by rotating the cover so that the detent moves and depresses the switch. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 wherein the cover includes first and second diametrically disposed detents having different shapes and the cover receiving cavity is correspondingly shaped to the outline of the cover with the differently shaped detents. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing a cover position indicator disposed adjacent the cover receiving cavity to signal the cover in the locked position.